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Have you had trouble getting classroom accommodations, such as an individualized education plan (IEP), for your child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), learning disabilities, and/or other special needs? Almost all of our readers have faced this problem -- and have come up with effective strategies for solving it.
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"Advocate for your child. If the school is not in compliance with the IEP, hire an IEP advocate and threaten legal action. It’s sad to say, but it is sometimes the only thing that works." -J., Virginia
"Copy the superintendent on all letters and e-mail sent to the school." -Celia, Ohio
"Make sure that your child knows about all the accommodations in his IEP, and make sure it is OK for him to request what he needs from teachers." -Melinda, Virginia
"Get your spouse involved. When I made my husband attend meetings, things started going our way." -An ADDitude Reader
"Hire a special-education advocate to go to school and observe your child in class." -Judy, Florida
"First, talk with the IEP liaison/special-ed teacher. Set up a meeting to discuss why it’s imperative to follow the IEP -- for the student as well as the teacher. If that fails, call the special-ed director to complain. Since the IEP is a legal document, the director will be quick to intervene on your behalf." -Karen, Massachusetts
This article comes from the Winter 2010 issue of ADDitude. To read this issue of ADDitude in full, buy the back issue.
